Former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent says he is cooperating with an International Cricket Council investigation into match-fixing.

Vincent, along with other former New Zealand cricketers Chris Cairns and Daryl Tuffey were earlier reported to have been investigated by the International Cricket Council as part of a match-fixing probe.

The ICC confirmed on Thursday morning it was looking at former New Zealand players for their alleged involvement in match fixing.

It said no players had been charged with any offence but a probe is ongoing into "fixing activity" and related matters.

It issued a statement in response to a report in the New Zealand Herald that up to three former Black Caps - whom the paper later reported were Cairns, Tuffey and Vincent - were being investigated by the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU) for alleged match and spot fixing.

In a media statement released this afternoon, 35-year-old Vincent said he is cooperating with the ICC inquiry but that rules and regulations prevent him from saying anything more at the moment.

"This investigation is bound by a number of rules and regulations that mean I am unable to make any further public comment," Vincent said.

"I will personally talk to the public when I am able to. In the meantime I cannot comment. Please respect me and my family's privacy until such time."

All-rounder Cairns - son of bowler Lance - is one of New Zealand's most decorated players with 279 international appearances to his name.

His 218 Test wickets places him fourth on New Zealand's all-time wicket-taking list while his 3320 Test runs puts him in the top 10 in Test runs scored.

He is also in the Black Caps' top five for both ODI wickets and runs.

The report said fixing took place in more than one country and had been under the spotlight from Australasian ACSU head John Rhodes for the past four months.

New Zealand Cricket in shock

New Zealand Cricket issued a statement which confirmed the investigation involving "a small number" of its former players.

Chief executive David White said NZC was "shocked and surprised by the allegations".

"We support the ICC’s investigation as corruption has no place in our sport," White said in the video statement.

"However, I would like to clarify a number of matters.

"Firstly, no current New Zealand players are being investigated. No games played in New Zealand are being investigated. And lastly, no matches under New Zealand Cricket’s jurisdiction are being investigated."

The ICC did not dispute anything in the initial newspaper report.

"The ICC confirms that it has indeed been working closely over the past few months with its colleagues in the domestic anti-corruption units of member boards to investigate these and related matters," its statement said.

"The ICC and all of its members maintain a zero-tolerance attitude towards corruption in the sport, and the ACSU will continue to collaborate with relevant individuals in order to complete its investigation process."

In a London Sunday Times article last year, Indian bookmaker Vicky Seth was quoted as saying that he had paid at least two New Zealand cricketers to cheat.

The revelation comes less than a week after the government released a report into corruption into New Zealand sport in which it asserted there was little to be concerned about.

However, sports minister Murray McCully promised to ramp up the fight against corruption by implementing greater information sharing among government and sporting bodies to stamp out potential match-fixing, doping and illegal activity.

The report was instigated after the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) earlier this year linked organised crime and banned substances to several Australian sporting codes including the NRL and AFL.

Oram fearing for New Zealand cricket

Veteran all-rounder Jacob Oram fears for the damage done to New Zealand cricket if a big-name player is found guilty of match-fixing by the International Cricket Council.

Oram says he has no idea who is being probed and hopes the four-month-old investigation uncovers no wrongdoing given the possible ramifications.

"I hope it's not one of our greats," Oram told LiveSport Radio.

"The world would just get turned upside-down if it was some of New Zealand's biggest names. Those records and those reputations would be gone forever."

The 35-year-old says a severe punishment needs to be handed to any player found to be involved in fixing to act as a deterrent.

He suggests a life ban although concedes there may need to be some leeway.

"If you're an 18-year-old and you're caught up and some senior guy drags you into it because you're scared of your place in the team, that could be very harsh," he said.

"But something needs to be done to get rid of this in cricket because it's a bit of a cancer."

Every cricketer would tell you that they've raised an eyebrow once or twice thinking, 'That just smells a bit fishy'.

Jacob Oram

Oram severed ties with New Zealand Cricket a year ago to pursue a professional Twenty20 career.

He admits he has held suspicions about the activity of others throughout a 12-year international career encompassing 33 Tests, 160 one-day internationals and 36 T20 internationals.

"Every cricketer would tell you that they've raised an eyebrow once or twice thinking 'that just smells a bit fishy - that field placement or that bowling change or that delivery at this time in the match just didn't seem right'," he said.

The best first-hand example came in this year's Bangladesh Premier League when Oram played for Chittagong against a Dhaka team featuring Mohammad Ashraful, which ultimately led to the former Bangladesh captain being accused of fixing.

Oram noticed Ashraful batted conservatively in chasing a target and was dismissed late in a game which Dhaka lost.

"I was opening the bowling and he was opening the batting and it was so damn obvious," Oram said.

Ashraful has been suspended indefinitely and his fate rests on an ICC anti-corruption and security unit report.